Safety device for automatic controls



June 4, 1935. w. P. BEATTIE 2,003,852

- SAFETY DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC coNTRoLs Filed Dec. 29, 1931 2Sheets-Sheet 1 N N Q P x f\ Q ,T Q

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INVENTOR ATTORNEYS June 4, 1935. w. P. BEATTIE 2,003,852

SAFETY DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC CONTROLS Filed Deo. 29. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR AN 11i/MAME 3f/17775 @gag/0%?? ATTORNEYS Patented June 4,1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY DEVICE Foa AUTOMATIC vcoN'raoLsWilliam P. Beattie, Norwood, Ohio, assigner to The American LaundryMachinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio ApplicationDecember 29, 1931, Serial No. 583,698

Claims. (Cl. 200-46) My invention relates to safety devices forautocover is normally moved to and maintained yieldmatic time controlsand, particularly, to safety ingly in an open position by a spring 3when devices used in conjunction with automatic electhe' controlmechanism is not in operation and tric time controls for operating thevalve or is locked in closed position during operation of 5 otheroperating levers of a laundry washing mathe control mechanism by meansof a spring 5 chine or the like. latch 4 secured to the vertical wall ofthe box The class of control mechanism, with which I remote from itshinge point 5. To unlatch the safety devices hereinafter described areparthe cover, the free end of the latch l is moved ticularly designed tobe used, is one in which preto the left as seen in Fig. 2, this movement'Dedetermined electrical contacts and complete ciring accomplishedeither manually, or, automati- 10 cuits for actuating valve or otheroperating lecally by energizing the coil 6 of a structure invers aremade by the employment of a slowly cluding a core 'I and an armature 8on the latch or intermittently moving perforated sheet of 4 which willdraw the latch to the left as will insulating material. That is, thelocation of be hereinafter described.

the perforations in the sheet determined which Within the box or casingI, a metallic disk 15 of a plurality of electrical contacts move to form9 is secured on the upper end of a vertical complete circuits, the timeat which they are shaft I0 adapted to rotate in a suitable bearmade, andalso determine the length of time such ing. The disk 9 is slowly rotatedby a suitcontacts and circuits are maintained. The perable means which,as shown, includes a motor forated sheet may take the form of a circularII and reduction gearing I2, I3 and Il. An in- 20 disk or a rectangularor otherwise shaped sheet. dependent metallic current conducting disk I5The objects of my invention are to provide is preferably carried by themetallic current cona means for preventing improper operation of ductingdisk 9 and is normally secured for rocontrol mechanism of the abovetype; to protation with the disk 9 by means of a vclamping vide a meansfor preventing completion of the screw I6. The disk I5 carries anelongated ward 25 4valve and lever operating circuits in the ab- I1 andan upstanding pin I8, the purpose of the sence of a perforated sheet ofinsulating madisk I5, ward I'I, and pin I8 being hereinafter terial; toprovide means ensuring the proper podescribed. Of course, the disk I5might be sitioning of the perforated sheet; to provide omitted in whichcase the disk 9 would carry means for adjusting the sheet as a means forthe ward I'I and pin I8. 30 changing the sequence of the various steps;and To have the disks 9 and I5 act as a means for t0 automatically SODOperation of the control completing electric operating circuits tocontrol mechanism after a formula controlled thereby valves or levers ofa washing machine as is dehas been completed. sired, a spring pressedcontact I9 is in constant Various other objects and advantageousfeaengagement with the lower side of the disk 9 to 35 tures of myinvention will be seen in the folloW- make an electrical connectiontherewith. This ins description and one embodiment thereof may contactI9 is operatively connected with one side be seen in the accompanyingdrawings wherein of an electrical circuit. As shown in the drawsimilarcharacters of reference designate correingsy a plurality of springpressed contact fingers spending parts, and wherein: 20 are carried bythe cover 2 on its under side 40 Fis. 1 is a diagrammatic view showingthe and in a position to yieldingly contact with the electrical circuitsemployed in my inVeIltOIi; Fig. upper surface of the disk l5 when thecover is 2 is a vertical sectional view of a. control mechin closedposition, each contact finger 20, when anism and safety devicesconstructed in accordin contact with the disk I5, serving to completeance with my invention; Fig. 3 is a plan view an electrical circuit fromone side of the circuit 45 of the perforated sheet of insulatingmaterial through the contact I9 and the disks 9 and I5 that forms a part0f the ccntrl mechanism; through a particular motor or solenoid 2I (seeand Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the Fig. l) which operates avalve or switch, as the plurality 0f Centact lingers that form' a part0f case may be, on the machine with which the conthe mechanism. trol isemployed. 50

Inthe drawings, I have shown one embodiment A suitable means is providedfor preventing the of my invention as comprising a control mechcontactfingers 20 from contacting with the disk anism and associated partsincluding a box or I5 except at predetermined instants or during casingI provided with a hinged cover 2 adaptpredetermined intervals, thismeans taking the ed to close the upper side of the box. This form of aperforated disk 22 of insulating mateu rial adapted to be mounted on thedisk I5 to rotate with the disks I5 and 9. Such disk 22 is provided withperforations 23 for coaction with the contact. ngers 28, there being arow of perforations for each contact ilnger with the `per forationsbeing disposed in a circular path in the event a circular disk isemployed or straight from end to end when a rectangular or other shapedsheet is used. A

The mechanism is so constructed that each time a perforation 23 in 'thesheet 22 is passed under one of the spring pressed contacts 20 byrotation of the disks 9 and I5 and the sheet 22, an 'electric circuitwill be completed which will operate a particular lever or control meansop- .eratively connected thereto, there being one contact 28 for eachoperating lever or specific control part. To change the cycle ofoperations of the several levers or specific control means of themachine, or the formula when the control mechanism is used with a rotarywashing machine, it is only necessary to substitute a diierentlyperforated sheet 22 for the one previously used in the controlmechanism.

Suitable means are provided for insuring that the insulating perforateddisk 22 is properly positioned on the disks 9 and I5 to complete thecircuits for actuation of the levers or control means of a machine inthe desired manner. This means consists of the elongated ward I1 and thepin I8 hereinbefore mentioned, the perforated sired manner, this naladjustment or readjustthrough a perforation 23 in the perforated sheettact fingers 20, disks I5 and 9, contact finger I9,

' properly operate levers or switches on the mechanism to be controlledso that a specic formula sheet 22 being provided with an elongated slot24 adapted to flt over the elongated ward I1 and an opening 25 adaptedto flt over the pin I8, the opening and ward being off-center. Ofcourse, the sheet is provided with an opening 26 to fit over theclamping screw I6. With these provisions, it will be seen that it willbe impossible to associate the perforated sheet 22 with the disk I5 inany but one position. That is, the perforated sheet may not be reversedor rotated out of one given position and applied to the disk I5. Meansare also provided'for a nal adjustment or a readjustment of 4 theperforated sheet 22 in order that the control mechanism will operate themachine in the dement of the perforated sheet being made possible byloosening the clamping screw I6 and rotating the disk I5 relative to thedisk 9.

In the operation of the apparatus assuming that the current conductingdisks 9 and I5 and the insulating sheet 22 have been rotated by themotor II through the gearing hereinbefore described until one of thecontact fingers 28 is in contact with the current conducting disk I5 22,current iiows from a source of supply through the line 21, normallyclosed relay switch 28, lines 29 and 30, to and through one of themotors or solenoids 2|, one of the lines 3I, one of the conand line 32back to the source of power. Thus, the motors or solenoids 2I areenergized to operate particular control levers or switches on themachine with which the control mechanism is associated and with whichthe respective motors or solenoids 2I are interconnected. Ashereinbefore stated, the perforations 23 in the disk 22 are so located,that circuits to motors or solenoids 2| will be completed atpredetermined times to will be carried out.

During operation of the motor II to drive the disks 9 and I5 in themanner hereinbefore de-l scribed, current flows through the positiveline 21, normally closed relay switch 28, line 29, line 30, and line 33to one side of the motor II and thence through line 34, normally closedrelay switch 35, line 36, and line 32 back to the source of supply. .iAs a safety means to prevent operation of the control mechanism when thecover 2 is closed without an insulating perforated sheet 22 having beenplaced on the disk I5, a contact finger 31 (see Fig. 4) of greaterlength than the contact iingers 28 is provided, the contact finger 31being adapted to contact with the disk I5 prior to contact therewith byany of the fingers 20. This contact finger 31, making contact with thedisk I5, energizes a coil `38 through a circuit from the positive line21, through line 39, coil 38, line 48, contact finger 31, disks I5 and9, contact nger I9, and negative line 32 back to the source of power. Oicourse, it is understood that the perforated sheet 22 is not providedwith any perforations 23 for coaction with the contact ilnger 31inasmuch as the contact finger 31 only functions when an attempt is madeto place the control mechanism in operation without having first placeda perforated sheet 22 on the disk I5. f ziY Energization of the coil 38opens thenormally closed relay switches 28 and 35 and thereby breaks allconnection between the lines 21 and 29, and lines 36 and 34 whereby allcontact fingers 20 will be ineffective to complete the operatingcircuits hereinbefore described and will` eiectively prevent operationof the motor II by cutting oi the supply of electricalcurrent thereto.The circuit just described is maintained through the A coil 38 whichcontinues to hold the normally closed relays 28 and 35 in open positionuntil the perforated sheet 22 is inserted which will break this circuitand permit the relays to close whereby the circuits hereinbeforedescribed may be completed. Thus, all parts of the apparatus arerendered inoperative by any attempt to place the apparatus in operationwithout a perforated sheet on the disk l5.

A means is provided for automatically releasing the latch 4 byenergizing the coil 6 as hereinbefore described whereby the cover 2 maybe raised by the spring 3, this means being of a nature to release thelatch at the end'of a formula controlled by movement of the sheet 22 anddisks 9 and I5, or, when the disks have passed through a complete cycleof movement. To do this, the

current conducting disk I5 is provided with an rotation of the disk I5,after a predetermined interval, will bend the finger 4I until itcontacts with a current conducting arm 42. The spring finger 4I and thearm 42 are both rigidly secured to the underside of the cover 2 and areinsulated therefrom bymeans of an insulating block 43.

When the finger 4I and arm 42 are in contact, an electrical circuit fromthe positive line 21 flows through line 44, coil 6, line 45, nger 4I,arm 42, lines 45 and 34, contact 35, and line 36 back to the sourceuofsupply. Thus, the coil 6 is energized which will draw the armature 8toward the core 1 to release the latch 4 and permit the cover 2 to beraised by the spring 3. On raising of the cover 2, the spring nger 4Iwill pass upwardly above ythe upper end of the post I8 and will returnto its normal position out of contact with the arm when the cover 2 ismanually closed again, the free end of the spring finger 4l will be sodisposed as to be again moved by post IB against the-arm 42 uponcompletion of the next revolution of the disk I5. With thisconstruction, the door 2 is automatically released to move to openposition at the end of each complete cycle of operation.

, As a safetyJ means to prevent operation of the control mechanism whenthe cover 2 of the casing I is in open position, a control switch 48 isprovided in the supply lines, the switch being adapted to be moved to onand of! position respectively by closing and opening of the cover 2.That is, both the positive and negative lines 41 and 48 for carryingelectrical current to the motors or solenoids 2I and motor II are brokenwhen the cover 2 is opened and closed when the cover 2 is closed wherebythe device will not operate with the cover 2 in open position. As shownin Fig. 2, the switch 49 is mounted on the inside of the casing I andincludes contacts 49 and 49', 50 and 5I and a bridging member 52 adaptedto be moved downwardly to make connections between contacts 49 and 49and contacts 50 and 5I when the cover 2 is closed, and to be movedupwardly by a spring 53 to break such connections when the cover 2 isopen. Thus, the lines 41 and 48 may be positively opened and closeddepending upon the position of the cover 2.

It may be desired to place the perforated sheet 22 on the disk I5 andclose the cover 2 and yet prevent the motor II from functioning torotate the disks 9 and I5 and the perforated sheet 22 for completing theelectrical circuits as hereinbefore described. To provide for this, aswitch 54 is placed in the positive line as shown in Fig 1, the switchbeing located adjacent the cover 2 as shown in Fig. 2, and outsidethereof in such manner that opening of the cover 2 will open the switch54, yet closing the cover will not close the switch. In Fig. 2, I havediagrammatically shown a snap switch of the one-way rotating typeprovided with two operating arms 55, the arms extending radially inopposite directions from the center pivot and being so arranged that theends are engaged by an arm 56 hinged to the cover 2 as at 51. 'I'heparts are so arranged that when the switch 54 is closed and the cover 2is opened, the arm 56 will engage one of the radial arms 55 and turn itthrough a quarter revolution contra-clockwise to the position shown bythe dotted lines to open the switch. However, on closing of the cover 2,the arm 56 moves away from the arm 55 and it becomes necessary to movethe one radial arm 55 manually one quarter revolution contra-clockwiseto close the switch 54. Obviously when one radial arm 55 is moved fromits Iposition above and to the left of the pivotal point, as shown indotted lines, down to a position below and to the left of the pivotalpoint to close the switch 54, as shown in full lines, the other arm 55is moved from its position below and to the right of the pivotal point,as shown in dotted lines, upward to a position above and to the right ofthe pivotal point, as shown in full lines. Thus, the last named arm 55in its upward movement will lift the arm 56 about its pivot 51, andafter it has passed beyond the end of the arm 56, said arm 56 will fallby gravity to its normal position as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, a means isprovided for automatically rendering the operating circuit ineffectivewhen the cover 2 is moved to closed position, with the means being suchthat manual operation of the switch 54 is necessary to place the devicein operation after the cover is closed.

With the above construction, I have provided an automatic controlmechanism particularly adapted for use on laundry machines and embodyingsafety features that will necessitate a proper assembly and position oi'parts before the control mechanism will be effective. I have likewiseprovided a safety feature which necessitates that the automatic controlmechanism be entirely enclosed and protected before it will operate. Itwill be understood that the automatic control mechanism may be of a typeembodying cylindrical disks or a at rectangular sheet in place of theplate circular disks here shown. What I claim is:

1. Automatic control apparatus of the class described and having acontactor-carrying base with a set of contactors yieldably mountedthereon, contactor means, means associating said contactor means andbase to provide relative opening and closing movement therebetween, saidcontactors being arranged to yieldably contact said contactor means whenthe latter and said base are in closed relation, a program member havinginsulating parts and perforate parts, means for removably mounting saidprogram member in overlying relation with said contactor means, meansfor driving said program member by way of said mounting means to causeits said parts movement in paths to control contact between saidcontactors and their said contact means, and means for controllingenergization of said driving means dependent upon the said mounting ofsaid program member between said base and said contactor means when thelatter are in closed relation.

2. Automatic control apparatus of the class described and having acontactor-carrying base with a set of contactors yieldably mountedthereon, contactor means, means associating said contactor means andbase to provide relative opening and closing movement therebetween, saidcontactors being arranged to yieldably contact said contactor means whenthe latter and said base are in closed relation, a program member havinginsulating parts and perforate parts, means for removably mounting saidprogram member in overlying relation with said contactor means, meansfor driving said program member by way of said mounting means to causeits said parts movement in paths to control contact between vsaidcontactors and their said contact means, and means for controllingenergization of said driving means dependent upon the said mounting ofsaid program member between said base and said contactor means when thelatter are in closed relation, said controlling means comprisingcooperative switch parts arranged in a circuit to prevent energizationof said driving means when said switch parts are in contacting relation,and an insulating part on said program member arranged to prevent saidcontacting relation when said program member is mounted as described.

3. Automatic control apparatus of the class described and having acontactor-carrying base with a set of contactors yieldably mountedthereon, contactor means, means associating said contaetor means andbase to provide relative opening and closing movement therebetween, saidcontactors being arranged to yieldably contact said contactor means whenthe latter and said base are in closed relation, a program member havinginsulating parts and perforate parts,

"means i'or removably mounting said program means. and means forrendering said contactors inoperative to control their circuits whensaid base and said contactor means are in closed relation and unlesssaid program member be mounted as described.

4. Automatic control apparatus of the class described and having acontactor-carrying base with a set oi' contactors yildably mountedthereon, contactor means, means associating said contactor means andbase to provide relative opening and closing movement therebetween, saidcontactors being arranged to yieldably contact said contactor means whenthe latter and said base are in closed relation, a program member havinginsulating parts and perforate parts, means for removably mounting saidprogram member in overlying relation with said contactor means. meansfor driving said program member by way of said mounting means to causeits said parts movement in paths to control contact between saidcontactors and their said contact means, means for rendering saidcontactors inoperative to control their circuits when said base aooaesaand said contactor means are in closed relation and unless said programmember be mounted as described, said last-named means-comprisingcooperative switch parts arranged in a circuit to prevent energizationof the circuits of said conf tactors, and an insulating part on saidprogram member arranged to prevent contact between said switch partswhen said program member is mounted as described. n

5. In automatic control apparatus of the class described and having acontactor-carrying base with a set of contactors mounted thereon,contactor means, means associating said contactor means and base toprovide relative opening and closing movement therebetween, saidcontactors being arranged to yieldably contact said contactor means whenthe latter and said base are in closed relation, a program member havinginsulating parts and perforate parts, means for removably mounting saidprogram member` in overlying relation with said contactor means, meansfor-driving said program member when so mounted to cause its said partsmovement in paths to control contact between said contactors and theirsaid contact means, and means for automatically preventing energizationof said driving means except when said base and contactor means are inclosed relation.

WILLIAM P. BEATTIE.

